Criminal Justice

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I am highly concerned for victims’ safety, says Commissioner, amid reports that police are being asked to consider making fewer arrests

Responding to reports that the NPCC has sent a letter to police chiefs asking them to consider “pausing” “non-priority arrests”, the Domestic Abuse Commissioner, Nicole Jacobs, says: “Reports that police chiefs are being asked by the National Police Chiefs Council to consider arresting fewer people are sobering. As violence against women and girls is now …

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I fear for the safety of domestic abuse victims with the early release scheme, says Commissioner

A report published today by HM Inspectorate of Prisons into HMP Lewes found that the implementation of the government’s early release scheme was “undermining good, safe release planning and risk management”, including: Responding to the report, the Domestic Abuse Commissioner, Nicole Jacobs, says: “When measures for potentially dangerous offenders are rushed out without proper planning, …

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Domestic abuse victims should not pay the price of prison overcrowding

In a debate in the House of Commons today, Minister Edward Argar confirmed that the Early Release Scheme has been expanded again, allowing prisoners to be released up to 70 days before the end of their sentence. Originally, prisoners were released up to 18 days before the end of their sentence, and in March it …

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Nearly Eighteen Thousand Domestic Abuse Crimes Missing from Statistics

17,600 fewer domestic abuse crimes have been recorded in statistics published today, after police were instructed to deliberately count fewer crimes.  In June 2023, the Home Office instructed the police to only count one crime for each time a victim comes forward and allowed police to stop counting crimes of threatening or abusive messages. These …

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Legislation needed to tackle police perpetrated abuse, says Commissioner

Part I of the Angiolini Inquiry, published last month, looked at the circumstances and failures that led to the abduction, rape and murder of Sarah Everard by a police officer in 2021. Today the government has announced that it has accepted all the government-led recommendations made by Part I of the inquiry. The government accepted recommendations …

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Police abuse hotline is a start but forces must properly deal with complaints, says Commissioner

Today the Domestic Abuse Commissioner has responded to the announcement of a new national line to root out corruption and abuse within the police. The Domestic Abuse Commissioner, Nicole Jacobs, says: “There should be no place in the police force for perpetrators of domestic and sexual abuse. That victims will have somewhere independent to report …

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Domestic Abuse Commissioner responds to new report revealing the scale of domestic homicide and suicide

The Domestic Homicides and Suspected Victim Suicides 2022-2023 Report, released today, examining domestic abuse related deaths in England and Wales has shown the scale of domestic homicides, and for the first time has recorded an increase in suspected suicides by domestic abuse victims. The report examines all deaths identified by police as domestic abuse related to improve …

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Failure to take abuse seriously empowers police perpetrators, says Commissioner

The Angiolini Inquiry, an independent inquiry into how an off-duty Metropolitan police officer was able to abduct, rape and murder a member of the public, has published its Part I report findings today. The report is the first of three that will be published by Lady Elish Angiolini. In response to the report, the Domestic …

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Commissioner responds to new statutory aggravating factor for sexually violent homicides

The Ministry of Justice has today announced: Nicole Jacobs, the Domestic Abuse Commissioner for England and Wales says, “Domestic abuse and sexual violence are closely linked crimes. One in three rapes and sexual assaults are perpetrated by current and ex-partners, and victims of intimate partner rape and sexual violence face particular barriers in finding justice. …

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Distorted police statistics downplay domestic abuse reports, says Commissioner

Ten per cent fewer domestic abuse crimes have been recorded in new statistics published today, after police were instructed to deliberately count fewer crimes. In new rules introduced in June 2023, the Home Office has told the police to only count one crime for each time a victim comes forward and allowed police count fewer …

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